Living Green Expo given high marks despite heat

ST. PETERSBURG - The Coliseum's air conditioner stopped working for several hours on June 18, sending temperatures through the roof. But the crowds at the Pinellas Living Green Expo stayed.

That was just one sign that the two-day event, which drew an estimated crowd of 5,000, was a success, said organizers, who are already looking for a larger venue for next year.

"The turnout far exceeded our wildest hopes," said Karl Nurse, president of the Council of Neighborhood Associations.

The environmental expo was "the biggest event we have ever done and the biggest environmental event that I recall in St. Petersburg," Nurse said, adding that locations under consideration for next year include the University of South Florida St. Petersburg and some north county venues.

Expo vendors shared information about everything from conducting home energy audits and how to get a tax break for installing insulation to keeping the heat and bugs out of the house without damaging the environment.

"The size of the crowd demonstrated that there is a very real and deep interest among our citizens to improve the quality of their lives," Nurse said.

Neighborhood meetings

The Palmetto Park Neighborhood Association will meet at 7 p.m. July 11 at the new Hospice of the Florida Suncoast facility, 3050 First Ave. S.

The Tuesday meeting of the Live Oaks Neighborhood Association is canceled. The next meeting is at 7 p.m. Aug. 1 at the Triangle 52nd Avenue N and Burlington Avenue. A traffic planning meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. Wednesday at St. Luke's Church, 4444 Fifth Ave. N. The traffic committee will meet with the city traffic engineer; interested neighbors are invited. Also, Summertime Fun continues at 10 a.m. Saturdays next to the Triangle. Activities include story time, crafts, a book swap and refreshments.

The Council of Neighborhood Associations will meet at 7 p.m. July 19 at the Sunshine Center, 330 Fifth St. N.

Readers wishing to submit information for the Neighborhood Notebook can contact Lorrie Lykins by e-mail at SPTimeslistings@yahoo.com For an item to be published in the Sunday edition, it must be submitted by Wednesday.